Ribble Cruising Club’s advice based on the Legal interpretation by the RYA.
Very little sailing activity is permitted
·Water sports centres must close
·Private Land may not be used for launching
·Private Land Facilities should be closed
·Private Land may not be used for recreation (Angling, Walking, Sailing)
·Dinghy Parks should be closed except for absolutely essential maintenance only (Dinghies should not be removed unless essential)
·Access for Essential Maintenance only may be performed in Marinas / Private Land
·Working Parties are not allowed
Clubs should be concerned with respect to public perception if something is observed by the public that clubs shouldn’t be doing…
Apparently Public Slipways may be used by a member of the Public in their own Boat. However You are not permitted to enter a club dinghy park and launch off a public slip!
In normal circumstances there would be a funeral to celebrate Mike’s life, mixed with sadness at the loss of a good friend. Most regrettably due to the coronavirus regulations there cannot be such a service.
Attached is the notice as published in the St Anne’s Express and the Order of Service. The church seating capacity is very limited and Ribble Cruising Club will be represented by Jo Wray, John E.Ogden and David H. Miller. The service will be streamed from the church on Facebook, see:
The cortege will leave Ansdell at 11:00 am on the 1st September and proceed through Lytham to the Health Centre and then along the Green to St Paul’s Church for 11:30 am. I Know many members will be at the junction of Central Beach and the club car park, opposite the Queens, around 11:05 am to pay their last respects.
Some may wish to be outside St. Paul’s or at the Crematorium approach in Regents Drive, a personal decision.
It is with profound sadness that we have to report that Mike Briers died on Tuesday 11th August in Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Mike became ill only four weeks ago with an aggressive brain tumour. His loss to his family, friends and the Ribble Cruising Club is impossible to overstate and Lytham has lost an extraordinary gentleman. He was active at the church, Music Society, Civic Society and other good causes, where with his infectious energy made so many lives richer.
Mike and Michele joined the club with their very young family Sarah and Daniel in 1979. For over 40 years Mike was been among the most active of members on and off the water.
He cruised and raced dinghies, trailer-sailers, quarter and half ton cruiser/racers and the International 12 metre Sceptre which gave Mike unparalleled experience, pleasure, and considerable success on the Ribble, Windermere, Scotland and as far as the Azores.
Mike was a Trustee, Commodore in 1985, Hon Secretary for 16 years and long-time speaker finder for the most successful Last Tuesday Talks. Most recently active on the RYA Northwest Regional committee with special interest in environmental and cruising matters. At the RCC August Main Committee meeting he was voted an Honorary Member.
The funeral arrangements will be notified in due course although they will inevitably be on a restricted format due to the Coronavirus.
Michele has asked for time to adjust and has the support of Sarah and Daniel and her grand children Jessica, Liam and Edward who are in our thoughts at this time of great loss.
David H Miller
Trustee
12th August 2020
Captain Barnacle
Aug052020
August Newsletter -The club is making a gradual return to dinghy sailing on the sea from the clubhouse
I do hope that you are well and managing to enjoy the summer. It is great to have seen an increase in the number of boats on the river and to have enjoyed some un-official social events at the dock.
The recent continued easing of restrictions by HM Government from the end of July has meant that the main committee has again reviewed the club’s response in terms of getting back to sailing.
The Government has assessed that outdoor activities can be further increased, and some indoor facilities have opened if they can be made sufficiently Covid-19 Secure. Additionally, the RYA has published more guidance stating that all forms of sailing are now possible providing that social distancing is maintained.
However, we are still only allowed to gather outdoors in a mixed group of up to six, with social distancing.
Whilst we can gather in small groups the preparation and launching of our dinghies and crewing of safety boats continues to provide a challenge requiring individuals to sometimes operate closer than 2m apart albeit for limited periods.
The Main Committee has reviewed the latest guidance and considers that it is now possible to move to a gradual increase in the number of club supported dinghy sailing events.
To this end the club is planning a number of dinghy sailing days on the estuary in August when a safety boat will be on the water.
The sailing days are initially for the benefit of members with their own dinghies, but a limited number of club boats will in the future be available for hire (booked and paid in advance) from John Gallagher. Numbers of people in the dinghy tanks are strictly limited (and thus the numbers on the water) in line with the government guidance noted above and therefore there will be a need for members to book onto these sailing days. Please do not just turn up and expect to sail, you may not even be allowed into the dinghy tank!
The days will be as the ‘Club Sailing (TBC)’ days and times as in the handbook.
The dock remains open for personal sailing (subject to government distancing regulations)
The Clubhouse will remain closed
A Safe Operating Procedure has been produced by the Sailing Committee and it will be incumbent on every participant, for their own protection, to act in accordance with its requirements. A copy of this document will be posted on the website , on Facebook and will be sent to anyone booking onto a sailing day.
If you would like to sail, or help, on one of these days, please book in at Captainhoratiobarnacle@gmail.com. As part of the club’s self-help ethos participants will also be expected at some point to take a duty at OOD and on the Safety Boat for which a rota will be compiled.
Meanwhile the Main Committee continues to review HM Government’s advice as it is issued. There is a planned re-opening date for the clubhouse (yet to be published) and a number of clubhouse-based activities are planned for the Autumn, but much will depend to some extent on the relaxation of social distancing.
Many may know that Mike Briers is presently not well, many will also be aware of how Mike has worked tirelessly over many years (since 1978 in fact) in several club roles most recently as the Hon Secretary and as a Trustee. Mike’s illness has meant that unfortunately he has decided to resign his role as both Trustee and Hon Secretary. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike on behalf of all the club’s members for the time and enthusiasm which he has put into his various roles at the club. This of course leaves us with a huge hole to fill and we are therefore seeking an individual to fill the role of Hon Secretary. If you have an interest or know of someone (they need not necessarily even be a member) who may like to take on this primarily administrative role, please get in touch with a member of the Main Committee. We all wish Mike a speedy recovery.
In the meantime, please keep safe and socially distance.
Captain Barnacle
Captain Barnacle
Captain Barnacle
Captain Barnacle